Harvesting combine for potatoes and the like



June 26, 1945. w. E. TEMPLETON HARVESTING COMBINE FOR POTATOES AND THE LIKE Fil'ed Jan. 22, 1942 7 Sheets-Sheet l W v l/wew r0? W/L L [AM 15. 72W: my.

Arromvavs.

June 26, 1945. v0. E. TEMPLETON 2,379,198

HARVESTING COMBINE FOR POTATOES AND THE LIKE Filed Jan. 22, 1942 7 Sheets-Sheet 2 lNvENTofi: WILLIAM L. TEMPLE To/v,

BY WK u- ATTORNEYS.

June 26, 1945. w. E. TEMPLETON HARVESTING COMBINE FOR POTATOES AND THE LIKE Filed Jan. 22, 1942 7 Sheets-Sheet 3 mm m .2 Mn

M m u W E ATTORNEYS.

June 26, 1945.

W. E. TEM PLETON HARVESTING COMBINE FOR POTATOES AND THE LIKE Filed Jan. 22, 1942 7 Sheets-Sheet 4 A-rra RNEYS.

HARVESTING COMBINE FOR POTATOES AND THE LIKE Filed Jan. '22, 1942 7 Sheets-Sheet 5 NE H. DE w.

s- Y 3 M m z w w WP TV T V. E M 12 u fi ql b hn M. Y B 6 m June 26, 1945.

W. E. TEMPLETON HARVESTING COMBINE FOR POTATOES AND THE LIKE Filed Jan. 22, 1942 7 Sheets-Sheet 6 INVENTOR.

A TTORA/[YJ WILLIAM E. TEMPLE ro/v. BY 5 June 26, 1945. w. E. TEMPLETON HARVESTING COMBINE FOR POTATOES AND THE LIKE 7 Sheets-Sheet 7 Filed Jan. 22, 1942 lNvEN-rofi:

WM 1. MM E. TEMPI. E ro/v. BY

s4 ATTORNEYS.

Patented June 26, 1945 HARVESTING COMBINE FOR POTATOES AND THELLIKE.

William E. Templeton, Trans fenPa. Application January 22, 1942, Serial No. 427,784

.6 Claims (01. 209-125) This invention, as indicated, relates to a .har-.

vesting combine for potatoes and the like. More particularly it comprises a digging mechanism associated with a conveyor mechanism having sorting and'sacking features associated there.-

With. The digger mechanism may be adapted for operating upon rows of potatoes planted, in spaced relation in sandy soil orthe like, but is also adapted to operate in potato fields designated as muck. 'Heretofore it has been found extremely diflicult to harvest potato crops grown freeing the side margins of the strip of soil operated on so as to provide harvesting mechanism of high efficiency for use under the dilicult conditions mentioned.

In apparatus heretofore utilized for harvesting potatoes, the weight and length of such equip-- I ment has been very great and has increased the.

difficulties of handling the same in the field.

The principal object of the present inventionis to obviate the difliculties above referred to and provide an apparatus adapted to di potatoes at a high rate of output and to sortand sack them free of vines and other foreign matter.

Another object of the invention is to ,provide an articulated harvesting mechanism suitable for; potatoes and other subsoil crops, such as peanuts, beets, turnips, and the like.

Another object of the invention is to provide a potato digging apparatus peculiarly adapted to operate in muck fields, wherein there is a great preponderance of vines and humus, without the usual difliculties of obstruction to the free working of the apparatus.

Another object of the invention is to provide a framed structure having a series of conveyor belts and sacking chutes whereby the harvested potatoes may be freed of foreign matter and conveyed to sacks or other receptacles ready for shipment to the market.

Another object of the invention is to provide a, light type of apparatus having a tractor potato digger unit in advance of an elevated screening, sorting, and sacking mechanism of light weight 1 and high efliciency of operation.

Another object of the invention is to provide a trailer mechanism adapted to be attached to and drawn by adigging unit for potatoes or other subsoil crops and to have a plurality of elements adapted to assist in freeing such crops of earth and foreign'matter and placing the same in suitable receptacles.

Another object of the invention is to provide a light frame unit adapted to be operated as a screening, sortingv and packaging apparatus for various materialstobe classified and placed in suitable receptacles. t

Another object of the invention is to provide a frame structure provided with a series of motor driven conveyors in spaced relation to each other to permit the screening, sorting and placing in receptacles of various articles at a high rate of operation.

Other and further objects of the invention will appear in the course of the following description. v

To the accomplishment of the foregoing and related ends, said invention, then, consists of the means hereinafter fully described and particularly pointed out in the claims, the annexed drawings and the following description setting forth in detail certain mechanism embodying the invention; such disclosed means constituting, however, but several of various forms in which the principle of the invention may be used.

In said annexed drawings:

Fig. 1 is a top plan view showin the complete apparatus embodying the principles of the invention, for digging, conveying, and sacking potatoes and the like;

Fi 2' is a side elevation of the structure shown in Figure 1;

Fig. 3 is an enlarged top plan view, partly in section, showing the sorting and sacking unit illustrated in Figures 1 and 2;

Fig. 4 is a vertical sectional view showing details of construction of one of the sacking conveyors illustrated in Figures 1 and 3, and taken along the line 44 shown in Figure 3 looking in the direction of the arrows; r

Fig. 5 is a. side elevation, partly broken away, of the combine portion of the apparatus;

Fig. 6 is a central vertical sectional view of the structure shown in Figure 3 as seen along the line 66 looking in the direction of the arrows;

Fig. 7 is a 'plan view, partly in' section, taken along the line 1'! shown in Figure 5 looking in the direction of the arrows;

Fig. 8 is a fragmentary detail plan view showing the deflecting bladeand shield over oneof the idler or marginal rollers; I i

Fig. 9 is a fragmentary side elevation; partly the adjustable support for the bladed conveyor r apron belt shown in Figures 9, 10, 11 and 12;

Fig. 14 is a fragmentary bottom plan view of the main conveyor belt structure providing along its path of movement the screening and elevating area, and the sorting level of-the combine unit;

Fig. 15 is a fragmentary plan view of the cleated 0r bladed conveyor belt for carrying the harvested product to the sortin level in conjunction with the main conveyor belt;

Fig. 16 is an enlarged sectional detail view taken along the line l6|6 shown in Figure 15 looking in the direction ofthe arrows and showing the blade fastening means;

Fig. 17 is a rear elevation of the sack or receptacle filling mechanism of the combine unit as seen along the line l'l-l'l shown in Figure Fig. 18 is an enlarged sectional detail view of the receptacle filling mechanism as seenalong the line l8l8 shown in Figure 5; a

Fig. 19 is an enlarged sectional detailfviw: of the conveyor supporting rollers as seen along the line I 9l9 shown in Figure 3; 1

Fig. '20 is an enlarged side elevation having portions cut away, showing the tractor unit equipped with a couiter mechanism; and

Fig. 21 is a sectional detail view of the coulter mechanism as seen along the line -2l-'2'l shown in Figure 20. a i

As has been explained, the present inventio is of general application, but is illustrated in Figures 1 and 2 particularly 'as a complete apparatus providing a continuous conveyor system adapted to perform one of the most 'diflicult harvesting operations, such as digging potatoes from muck soil and placing them in receptacles such as sacks, ready for the market as 'a single continuous operation. It is well known that muck soil presents a tangle of vegetable vines and roots intermixed with earth and granular particles and providing a particularly favorable 'medium within which to produce a potato crop of excellent quality as well as a yield of satisfactory quantity. The harvesting of such crops has heretofore been a problem because of the'high percentage of loss in the harvesting operation.

In addition to the problem of harvesting potatoes in muck soil there frequently arises the problem of harvesting potatoes 'in soils which are intermixed with field stones or congl'omerated material which would obstruct or inJure a bladed conveyor or elevating mechanism fixed to a rigid which transfers the strip of potato laden earth onto a conveyor belt 5 on the combine unit, and thence to a point where the potatoes are finally placed in suitable receptacles or sacks, as will be hereinafter described in detail.

When the tractor has to operate in muck soil the coulter blades 6 are provided at each side of the digging blade slightly in the rear of the forward edge thereof and are power driven by means of belts 1 so as to sever the compacted mass of soil and permit it to be lifted as a substantially integral strip onto the conveyor belt 4 which in turn is power driven by means of .a belt 8 cooperating with suitable transmission means operated direct from the tractor by means of a driving belt 9. By reference to Figures 20 and 21, it will be noted that the digging blade 3, and the coulter blades 6 are supported in a frame H pivoted to the frame l2 of the conveyor element 4 by means of a pivot pin [3 and having a supporting yoke l4 connected with a hydraulic cylinder I 5 operable by a lever IE to raise the blade to any degree desired through the reciprocation of such lever and to release the blade to drop by gravity when further adjustment is desired. A spring I! anchored to the yoke and to the tractor body may be used to assist in lowering the mechanism just described and holding it infirm contact with the surface operated on.

Variations may be provided in the hydraulic control of the digging and coulter blades, or either of them. The firmness with which the blades are held and the rapidity of the adjustment of the digging blade in relation to the soil operated on is of extreme importance in connection with certain types of soils, and particularly those heavily intermixed with roots and rocks and similar foreign matter.

As'heretofore indicated, the tractor I is of conventional structure and preferably is adapted to straddle a row of potatoes and upon its completionof the harvesting of a row, having a turning radius that permits it to return to the other endof the field along a row closely adjacent the row just completed without loss of time and with ahigh'rate of output.

As has been indicated, the potato bearing strip of earth after being severed from the adjacent soil is "conveyed rearwardly upon the conveyor belt 4 within the frame member IZ-of the tractor unit and then passes rearwardly between the guard plates 2| supported by bracket arms 22 on the tractor frame [2 and controlled as to position by means of bracket arms 23 on combine frame 24. The combine frame may be variously constructed, but in the form illustrated "is used as a two-wheel trailer, the wheels 25 being positionedat an intermediate point preferably'adjacent a vertical frame member 26 and between cross frame members 21, 28. The vertical frame member 26 and front and back frame members 29, 30, serve to support above the main combine frame 24, the top frame 3|. This top frame, as shown more particularly in Figure 3, provides a central area for the main conveyor belt andtwo lateral conveyor belts, 32, 33. These lateral conveyor belts are supported on rollers 34, 35, and extend substantially horizontally the full length of the top frame. They operate intermediate longitudinal partition members 36, 31, on the inner and outer sides respectively, such partition initial level of the lower frame member 24 to the sorting level at which are positioned the lateral conveyor belts 32, 33, intermediate the partition members 36. As is shown more particularly in Figure 19 the lateral belts as well as the central main conveyor belt are driven by means of a belt 4| extending over a pulley 42 engaged upon a shaft 43 connected with the rollers which drive the lateral belts, and with the sprockets 44 which drive the main conveyor belt 5, which sprockets are at each side of the central roller which provides the rearward support for the main conveyor belt. The combine unit may receive power through a transmission line from the tractor unit, but it has been found satisfactory to operate the belts of the combine from a small self-contained power unit 45, which, as shown in Figure 5, drives the belt 4| through the pulley 46 on the shaft of the larger pulley 4'! driven directly from the drive shaft of the motor 48. The belt 5, it will be noted, passes over the idler pulleys, or marginal rollers 51, beneath the shielding plate 50, and over the idler rollers 52, 53, 54 and 55, and has an angular ,upward flight or path serving to shift or screen loose soil from the sub-soil product.

The construction of the main conveyor belt 5 may vary, but it has been found that a construction of they character shown in Figure 14 is inexpensive to manufacture and to maintain in continuous operation. The heavy fabric body of the belt 5 is preferably provided with supporting cross-bars 6| having their ends encased in a marginal strip 62 secured to the main bodyof the belt by means of rivet-type fasteners 63, or any other suitable means of securing the same. The bars, or rods 61, provide a positive drive for the belt 5 by engagement with the teeth of the driving sprockets 44, and also serve to provide pocketed areas within which the material being harvested may rest, particularly while being moved in an upward direction, as will be hereinafter explained. This upward movement of the harvested material, it will be noted by reference to Figures 5 and 6, is accomplished by means of a companion overlying belt in the form of a bladed conveyor, or apron belt, 64, having the detailed structure shown in Figures 15 and 16. The body of the bladed conveyor belt is cleated, being provided with fabric side strips 65 to which are secured angle bars 66 by means of bolts or other suitable fasteners, the vertical portions of such angle bars having secured thereto blade members 61 preferably formed of fabric having serrations at its free end so as to provide what may be termed rubber fingers 68. These rubber fingers, or cleats, when brought into contact with a strip of potato bearing material act against the same with a resilient pressure so distributed that no injury is caused to the potato or other materialrbeing. harvested,l and .yet the. product so harvested is held firmly and; moved to the top of the sorting table areain .a uniform and vdependable manner.so:that rapidprogress can be made Withthe. harvesting, sorting and sacking operations. The belt 64 is engaged over an idler pulley or roller ll adjacent its lower end and engages over a driven roller ll at its upper end operated by means of the belt 13 connected with thepulley 14 on the shaft of the idler roller 52 of the main conveyor belt 5 and operating the driven roller 12 through the,pu1ley.;15.

The potatoes, when received from the conveyor, may be agitated by elliptical sprockets set up along the lower horizontalpath of the belt 5,.and the soil thus loosened is further separated by the pressure of the cleats or fingers 68 and bars 6| anddischarged downwardly from the angular portion of the main conveyor belt path... 1 I The combine frame 24 is provided :with a platformBl, 82, at each side, as shown more particucentrally of thetop level of the combine unit, the

discarded material discharging. centrally to the ground at the end of the sorting level. It will be noted that .the unit power plant 45 is conveniently accessible to any one standing on the platform 8| and that-iaicontrol lever 83 permits the driving power to be cut off without stopping the engine. In addition to the lateral platforms BI, 82, a rear platform 84 is provided. The rear platform provides standing room for the operators to control the fillin of the sacks with the potatoes traveling down the lateral conveyor belts 32, 33. The rear platform thus provides space for the sacking crew and the lateral platforms continuous therewith, provide space for the sorting crew. As is shown more particularly in Figures 3, 5 and 6 the lateralconveyor belts discharge into hoppers 85 having hooks, or other supporting devices 85 around their lowerouter areas to receive empty sacks!" with their lower ends resting on the platform 84. Each hopper, as will be seen more particularlyby reference to Figures 17 and 18, is of'a size to accommodate two sacks in transverse alignment. Centrally of each hopper a deflecting plate 9! is provided, such plate being pivoted on a bar 92 terminating in a crank arm 93 projecting through the rearward wall of the hopper at a central position. It will be noted by reference to Figure 18 that the plate when resting against the right-hand wall of the hopper will divert potatoes or other harvested products into the left-hand sack, and that when reversed in position it will divert such products to the right-hand sack.. From what has been stated as to the construction of the hopper mechanism it will be clear that while one sack is filling, the operator on that side of the apparatus will find it necessary to remove the full sack and place it on the ground Orin a suitable trailer attachment, and then place an empty sack in place of. the removed sack, and thereafter repeat the operation with reference to thesack which has been filling in the interval. With an ade: quate crew separating the potatoes from, thevines and a reasonablyhigh rate of travel of thecon-- veyor belts the harvesting of a;potato crop may be carried out at a very high ratecf speed;

I It should'benoted that'with' aconveyor belt at each side'of the sorting top it ispossibleet'o .place the larger:potatoes at one sideof the apparatus and the smaller potatoes at the other 'sideiof the apparatus 'and thus provide a classification of thezpotatoes while they'are being harvested. The apparatus also permits of .the addition :of one or more belts to take care of anintermediate size potato, should that type of classification be important in the locality where the potatoes are harvested. v

As heretofore stated where the apparatus is to be used in localities where therearelarge field stones, or similar units'of material, of more than average size, difficulties will Iat times be encountered with the rigid typeof bladed elevating conveyor which will not provide adequate clearance for such extra sized objects. In orderto provide.

a combine unit adapted for work in fieidsof this character for harvesting sub-soil products, a floating type of elevating conveyor orapron, is provided, as illustrated in Figures 9 to 12,- inclusive. The semi-jfloating conveyor, it will be noted by reference to FiguresQand lo providesa frame work and main belt of the type heretofore described, such parts being designatedby reference characters similar to those heretofore utilized in the description of Figures 5 and 6 more particularly. In place, however, of havingathe elevating conveyor secured at its lower end it isisupported on an adjustable frame lfllillustra'ted'in iletail'in Figure 13. The frame comprises a sleeve IOI within which is telescopically engaged a second sleeve I02'within which-in turnaa supporting bar I03 is telescopically engaged. The sleeve *IIH'has a split section I at its free end adapted to be brought intoclamping relation upon :thesleeve I02 by means of the clampingbolt III5.v The sleeve IIlI is provided-at its outer end with-a pair of arms forming a'yoke I06, the arms having apertures to receive aishaft I01, the ends of the shaft having flanged rollers I08 mountedthereon and placed a suitable distance to supporta bladed conveyor belt I09, such belt being-of similar construction to the belt 64, heretofore described. The supporting bar. I03 is provided at its free end with a pair of arms forming a yoke III, the outer ends of such arms being perforated-to receive a shaft H2 at the outer ends of which flanged rollers II3 areprovided, such rollers besurface of the stoneand ride completely over the same, and thereafter the belt will exert an elevating or lifting effect uponthe stone until it is brought to the level of the sorting table where it can be freed of adherent material and discarded by the operators stationed at either side of the sorting level.

The elevating conveyor mechanism just described will accommodate oversize field stones and the like of moderate excess of dimensions, but in order to provides, mechanism'adapted to accommodate field stones of even larger size it is desirable to provide a companion belt in the form of a full floating conveyor belt at the forward end of the apparatus, as illustratedin Figures lland 12. ported upon an adjustable frame I00 01 the type heretofore described, but the upper shaft III is carried in a frame member '8. of inverted U- shape, such frame'member beingsupported onva pivot H9 at one end and upon a stub shaft I20 at its opposite end, such pivot and stub shafts engaging through suitable openings in theextensions I2I of the upper lateral .members '.0f the main frame of the combine unit. The stub shaft I20 carries an idler pulley I22,iand upon ashoulder bracket arm I23 carries a second idler'pulley I24 normally held in a downward position by means of a tension spring I25 attached to an eye I26 on said bracket,andto-a pin I21 on'the upper lateral frame member of the combine. The shaft IIl projects through the frame IIB and carries at its outer end a drive pulley I28 'over which a belt I29 engages, said belt extending-also over the idler pulleys I22 and I24 and over the main drive pulley 14 of the combine unit which has been heretofore described in connection withthe apparatus disclosed in Figures 5 and 6.

It will be noted that the full floating type of belt just described may be designated as "selfadjusting, since it will rotate inan. upward direction about the-axis provided-about the pivot H9 and the stub shaft I20, and that after the obstacle passes beneath the point of support of the frame H8 the belt will then be free to ride over such enlarged object at'its upper end, the parts being adapted to move awayfrom the main conveyor belt an adequate distanceto allow such object to have free passage.

A stop I3I may be provided on'the frame IIU, such stop bearing against the upper edge of the extension of the main frame and preventing contact with the main conveyor belt at the upper-tend when the'elevatingconveyor swings downwardly. Similar top members I32may be provided on the lower yoke to bearagainst the side frame to pre vent the lower portion of the elevated beltfrom contacting the main conveyor belt directly.

The connection between "the tractor and the combine unit may'be'through the use 0111 conventional coupler 84, and as has been stated is preferably of such character as to permitthe entire harvesting unit to move from one row for a return trip down the field through a row closely adjacent thereto. The entire conveyor system operates continuously, and the strip of potato bearing material progresses over the digging blade and belt section of the tractor onto the main conveyor belt at a high'rate of speed and adequate to keep a crew of operators continuously busy to properly care for the product as it passes over "the-sorting table and into the sacks. As has been indicated variations in many of the features of the construction maybe made without departing from the spirit of the invention and where potatoes are planted in certain types of soil in closely spaced rows it mayjbe found advantageous to provide twin units of digging and conveyor belt systems to takecare of the product being harvested. It is to be understood that't he apparatus is also adapted for harvesting'crops other than potatoes, and that it is not intended to restrict the use of the apparatus to any particula product so long as the principal features-of the inventionare adaptable thereto. The apparatus may be built as a single piece of apparatus instead of as a tractor and trailer type-of structure,

The conveyor belt I09 is supbut such apparatus would probably. involve removable or convertible parts for other seasonable demands.

Other modes of applying the principle of my invention may be employed instead of those explained, change being made as regards the mechanism herein disclosed, provided the means stated by any of the following claims or the equivalent of such stated means be employed.

I therefore particularly point out and distinctly claim as my invention:

l. A sorting and distributing mechanism for subsoil products comprising a frame providing an initial level and a sorting level, a conveyor belt positioned longitudinally centrally of said frame and having an initial horizontal level and inclined elevating portion and a horizontal sorting level, a self-adjusting floating apron in loadriding spaced relation to said inclined portion, a power unit for driving said belt, a lateral conveying member positioned on each side of said conveyor belt and discharging at the rearward ends thereof, a hopper mechanism at the end of each of said last-named conveyor belts, and removable receptacles connected with said hopper mechanisms.

2. A sorting and distributing mechanism for subsoil products comprising a frame providing an initial level and a sorting level, a conveyor belt positioned longitudinally centrally of said frame and having an initial horizontal level and inclined elevating portion and a horizontal sorting level, a self-adjusting floating apron in loadriding spaced relation to said inclined portion, a power unit for driving said belt, a lateral conveying member positioned on each side of said conveyor belt and discharging at the rearward ends thereof, a hopper mechanism at the end of each of said last-named conveyor belts, a pair of receptacles connected with each hopper mechanism, and means for diverting the harvested products selectively into one of said pairs of receptacles.

3. A trailer unit for attachment to a potato digging unit comprising a frame providing an initial level and a sorting level, a conveyor belt on said frame having an initial receiving level, an intermediate inclined elevating level and an upper sorting level, said conveyor belt being formed of metal cross rods and a canvas web, sprocket rollers adapted to eng e and drive said belt through said cross rods, a power unit for driving said sprocket rollers, a cleated companion belt positioned angularly above the inclined portion of said conveyor belt and carrying a plurality of spaced projecting resilient finger cleats to space and convey portions of harvested material up the ing area over the main portion of said frame and an upwardly inclined flight for conveying harvested, material thereto with a horizontal receivin portion at a lower level, an angularly positioned companion belt disposed in free selfadjusting floating relation above said upwardly inclined flight and having elements automatically varied in spaced relation to the main conveyor belt through contact with the material on said main conveyor belt, and means for driving said belts.

5. A trailer unit for attachment to a potato digging unit comprising a frame having a pair of Wheels at an intermediate position thereof, a platform for an operative crew extending around the side and end portions of said frame, a substantially horizontal elevated platform over the main portion of said frame formed of a central conveyor belt and two lateral conveyor belts, an upwardly inclined flight for the central conveyor belt, an angularly positioned companion belt disposed above said flight and having a plurality of transverse cleated members of resilient material at spaced intervals thereof, a power unit for driving each of said belts supported on said trailer, a pair of hoppers at the end of each lateral conveyor belt, and means for associating receptacles with the discharge outlets of said hoppers.

6. A trailer unit for attachment to a potato digging unit comprising a frame having a.pair of wheels at an intermediate position thereof, a platform foran operative crew extending around the side and end portions of said frame, a substantially horizontal elevated platform over the main portion of said frame formed of a central conveyor belt and two lateral conveyor belts, an upwardly inclined flight for the central conveyor belt, an angularly positioned companion belt disposed above said flight and having a plurality of transverse cleated members of resilient material at spaced intervals thereof, a power unit for driving each of said belts supported on said trailer, a pair of hoppers at the end of each lateral conveyor belt, means for associating receptacles with the discharge outlets of said hoppers, and a distributing member for directing harvested material from said hoppers selectively into, one of a plurality of receptacles.

WILLIAME. TEMPLETON. 

